Engine construction



Dec. 7, 1948. l.. w. BEAvl-:N 2,455,547

` VENGrINE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed July. 29, 1942 .'5 Sheets-Sheet `3 `ENGINE colista@HON` Leslie BeavenflClilieago original application l Julyl r29,"1942,

@Galant-:J i l A further ob there 1spiloti/rry anddescribed a superhargerfin structure here? shown embodies "a" c these` parts," and vaporiz Patented Dec. 7, 1944.8"l

13,21944,` Serial `NILSZ presentpinuention relates, in `generaLmto as the explosiveV fuel, but also as a lubrlcantl for thejmoving parts '01%f thesengine, asawelltasa this iixcharacter, improved means wherebyfueland iair maybe Supplied; preferably, to apurnpl meeh- ``ani`sn1""which latteroperates to compress and transform la cold and heterogeneous mixture of jairiand; fidell into aheated emulsiontofproduce` Aahh"`eatecl,`finely divided and homogeneous mist `Oifoe e being eenvredgrothe `intake of the enginapref- {erahly by the purrip `1neelf1`anism,`fyi/hereby` .the yaporization fof the `fuel can be adequatelynlassistedlby the `heatfrom the internalfpartsof the exe"rnplicatiori` of "inyention,

connection with the fuel feeding meansg `the speidconstruotion of which supercharger forms the subject` matter" Fof "the above referred tocopending" application,i` and is described `herein for the purpose "of "afclear understanding thereof f and ,1

itSdQmieCHn with the Present invention.

e e e e `emitir'- ugaiair-eooledlengine haying the cylindersradi- "ally disposed to revolve upon a stationary shaft, l"and the fuel is supercharged and fed, by centrifugajlfwforce, directlygthroughthe `pistons` i The fuel emp1oye`d,` which is preferably heavier than gasoline, isere@ with air, `through the main "eranlsshaft, intothe niainihousing ofthe engine, i;

roughthe pistons into` the explosion i h and thence` th Wing tothe fea t that fuel doesnlot bss Valve is open,` the fuel "will `aet Masa lubricant upon thefmoving parts ofjtheengine; tendingto` cool l Inside the enginegfdue `to centrifugal ajtibe f the whirling or spinning cylindrs,` the fuel `mix- `ture'isUforcedagainstthe under sideof "the pisf tons, andifwhen the"` intake valve''intapistdriyis` opened, passes through thpistonland is packed with force-into they combustion chamber. The

Divided and this applicati "r"f1lhsapplioationfis fadivision `of application, E

l l U10eerie),hereinafter jeotis to provide, in anengine of n ation Willlde" assistedby theneatabsorbed.

PAT

ser: `Maron i i n @facilitatedbathe Same Centrifugal force, `helingthrown out through the exhaust herr, theyalyelopens, -thus relieving l the kipreesuraf @l n l Le t of; these `ends and the aci e e of" otheer` new and; `useful `objects asiwill reappear!` thesinvention consists in the feamires f nqverltl inisubstantially the construction, `cornbination andnarrangement f of the several e e ore fully described `and clainied and shown in accompanying drawiillugs nilllstletedinvthis mention; in which t Eigene is avoiw Partly i in elevation, partly Lin section, andlpartly broken away; of an engine e e *e e e u nstructedin accordancewith "the"` principlesof his e vention, andlillustrating f` 9i thevarlifeus radially disposed engine Cylin- Figurewz is av vertical sectional View `taken all" h li of theeriginel,l e e e li e an enlarged detail sectional view fthgfuei eedmg ldeyies. l e l Figure `V`4l`is an enlarged Vertical sectional View lo Oneloferthe motion transmitting pinions, with 25 th adjaejen portions;ffthesupercharger struc N y `Figure 6 is cvie" sirniiar to "Figureg, of antherwf th 'mpelleerrriernbers.`` n lanlend elevation of an impeller n ipfefrrediyee- Y A is 1i a" detail sectional View 2,` withparts` omitted. e e ecornpanyingtdrawingus are `to he undersv beingl more" or less diagrammatic, for e f illustrating atypical or preferred "1.1 entiere n f The kleine 4,onsistsessentially,of an engine 0 n mnly `kritngvlnas `the crankshaft, lz itioriary and is `preferahly provided e through `which the`icombestiale wel. .iSlied o theleflgine Casing l2, and l iheeng e` cylinders 13 (oniyone of `ih `i illustrate are disposed in radial taken e on poll i `{lapted to "rotate upon the shaft ub `|;4 "of ftheecasing is` rotatably rigide supporting frame l5, of any ucton Arltifriction bearings I6 dfhe weentheengin easing hub singe The casing and I4 and the supporting frame I5, and similar bearings II are disposed between the hub I4 and the adjacent portion of the shaft I0.

The combustion fuel is adapted to pass through the bore II of the shaft I and into the engine 5 casing I2, where it will enter the inner ends of the cylinders I3, from where it isnadmittedintvo the oorfl'lou'st'ioiiichambers by` l:fittasi (of i suitable valved ports"lo`cated"`in"the pistons 'I8',"wllich lati ter reciprocate in the cylinders and have their pitmans operatively connected, in any suitable* manner, to the crankshaft Ill. l

The fuel feed devices and the supercharger.

apparatus are enclosed within a sultbliihislngf" that is mounted, preferablyyongthe side---0fthef15t support I5 which is oppositeftheeugineecasingt I2. This housing preferably embodies a cyl? indrical wall or shell portion I9 havingdateral lugs by which it is anchored to its support, p'rfsag'e- IIY in thes-ha-ft-` |015 toforiirfav continuation 0f Such pssagef A`l fuel Efeedl "device" is kprefertilibly' assembled upon the innerportionf'of the' shaft, ari-'d the specc L40 construction thereof fr'ln's tile-su ectkr'r'ltte'r" of pose of e -elee'r understanding"oi'tliepiesetfiii- 45 intimately compresses the niiiztur'e oiairriufuel Tto i f thesliatt i persion of air and 'fuel through a passagewaye 31, which latter communicates with the pressure side of the pump.

A spray port 38 is provided in the upper end of the piston or plunger 34, that is controlled by a spray valve 39 adapted to be actuated by the pressure of the fuel received from the pump, which filelfiisii transiiiltted tof theifvalve ist ftlirough a l'gitl'l'dal passage 39"in"tfie adjacent Section of the piston body between the shouldered portion and the chamber in which the spray valve is reciprocably and yieldably mounted, the tendericyof `the fuel pressure to open the spray port 2'8 beinlg'iopposed by the spring 38a behind the spray-` Avalve-39t i T edisper'sionfo air and fuel is created within the fuel line 3I and driven by the pump gears 30 'prt 3'I to the annular chamber 36 where its entrapment Vcauses thg pressure to rise against sagealso'in sai-cljfpis'ton'l afi-da lovverliorltoiital fuiifwifiiehis --partlyiri the easing tiene pertlyein Ytritati-'ee vis tlepsssage '-azbiri thev esse. In operapass'feliannelazeis closed at 'its upper' enusaiid lsfelosirig'wiieii the bye'pass is Vope'iiifigjlts"upper horizontal: lrun into commuIicato'n'h4 with" chainair oontroi valve is approximately iii inverseproportioto the 'amount of flow lathe-bypass makes tlieaniouni of air'aamittedabout'eqifsrto trie amount 'esea'piii,eini trie emulsioii'at' the' 'spray port as; thereby keepiiigthe mixtuieofai'eiid pumpintotheoasingrsz'ofaeoiitrel detriee. *filisfo'oisteltiayshiriogeiieoiis- 'rlieflow in triebycasing is hollow, and may"bofianyldsiredfsie and configuration, and'ls'closed "atts' ttrer'id,

the other end Vloeliigoperi andfseeiiredivvltliri an pass 32e is the complement of -theflow thru-fthe sprayportsp Anotherffeature 'ofthe fuel feed control makes 4the 'by-passing, Vand .therebyA the ,fediii'g.fuction, responsiveto the densitypfthe tion willbe established'ibetweeii'trie eslnjgisz aiem'tlie iiitake'passsge 2a; e lessened-oir denber of the oasingfi'n `tooth longitudinal 'esda'tiiins- 70 verse'directio'r'ls.v This piston is pvidewi'th a' reduced or'shoulderd p`rtion35` midway "of the length thereof, that is iii registration .witliana'nn The `ufpperend-of thepiston r`34 fisf-exposedto,

andlis'- aifectedfby, any variations Otau-pressure changesiwhich voccur in the-passageway orebore zf'of the' extensionshaft 2d. The sha/ttm or one of; thei pumpgears-A-projects l'beyond the-pump nular `channel 3 '6extendingiargundfthe borefgfchamberfwallesand-has-secured;toeitf'aepinion4I thecasing, to"'provide`a space thatreceives adis- 75 which meshes with an internal annular gear 42 secured to `the adjacent end face'cf thewensine casing hub I4, so `that said internal gear 42 will tied'otated` with the engine when the latter is `in operation, with the engine casing I2 and its cylinderswlwrotating upon ithe stationary shaft I0. This internal gear 42 isi preferably mounted upon thewinneri `face of a cylindrical frame or l fitting 43; vandlthis flttingis provided `withilanges 44-45, `one of which flanges is anchored to the hub I4 `of the engine casing. "1 i lAnlannular air inlet opening 46 `maybe pref` vided in the outeri endportion of the shell 19, tlie--`edges` of such openings havingseatsll to receive an annular filter pad or member 42a,` of any suitable Mconstruction, for the purpose' of filtering theiair that is admitted through s'aid opening. Said `inlet "opening 46 may bereinforced by suitable stays or ribs 49, whichrlbs also serve `to preventthelterpad 42a from beflingisucked ordrawn into the shell by the passag' of air inwardly through the `opening`v46b Within the shell there is provided an internal ring-gear "50 suitably supported and secured thereto, preferablyby means of keys 5I,`said ring gear constituting one of the members `of a suitable gear train employed to drive the impeller members` of a` supercharger. A plurality of planetary gears 52 preferably .three `or more) in mesh with theinternal ring gear 50, `are mounted uponspind1esi53 that are preferably elongated to pass through the flanges 44-45 of the frame 43` that rotates with the engine casing.` The eentral orusun `gear 55 of the planetary gear `train is mounted upon the stationary shaft extension, and is` in mesh with the planetary gears 52. Aj thrust-bearing or `annular stop 56 may be provided to prevent movement of the sun `gear 55 ini` an inward direction; This gear 55 may be provided with a clutch disc 51 that in turn is provided with a friction ring 58, of anysuitable sub-` stance, for" engagement with an opposing clutch` "disc `59 `secured to animpeller member of 'a superoharger. e The supercharger `also embodies an impeller member 6l which confronts the impeller meniber 60 and is yieldably urged toward the latter, 4so that the elements oflthe clutch will normally be frictionally engaged to rotate the impellers `lill-45| upon the shaft 24, through the medium of the planetary gear train, when the engine is being rotated uponits shaft I0. The impeller inembers 60`6I are rotated in opposite directions," so that "the required amount of compression is secured at onefhalf the speed otherwise required. The impellers` preferably comprise" circular plates 60 and 6L having concentric rovgvs4 of arcuatebladesfor ns 60a and Gla, respectively, the saidrowslon `one plate (60) beingldisposed inlalternate arrangement with respect tothe rows ofmblades on the confronting `plate 6I, andin orderto accomplish this arrangementthe rows on each,plate` are separated from each other by 1olnnnelspor grooves 60h and 6Ib that are each of proper width and depth to intimately accommodatethe opposing rows of blades `with close Vclearancesbetween the parts. As shown `in Figure2, the clearances between the interfltting eleinentshave `been intentionally exaggerated,` for tions ofthebladesburve inwardly and are closer to f the a rotational i axis t of t the impeller than `are the leadingedges which plowl` or cutiinto the air in `the manner `ofhtheffwingsoi an airplanemThe individualz `blades` are"` L spaced apart from each other the .properl distances,` to permit the air` to readily pass between them, and, `,since the confrontingimpellersirotate in directions opposed to*` eachother, the. air :is forced in'a somewhat zigzag or'back-and-forth course toward the axis ofrotation of the impellers, thus creating centripetal force as distinguished from the centrifugal principlei upon which t it has `heretofore been` custernary Ito operate supercharger devices.` The opposeddirections of rotation renders it possible to revolveithevimpellers ata relatively slow speed as compared with the high speed at which superchargers have heretofore been rotated.

lffhedrnpeller members 60 and 6| are provided with L'axial `openings lwhereby they may be mounted for rotation upon the shaft 24, and around these openings there `are provided facing recesses 60o and Bic, which together provide an annular central chamber62 adjacent theshaft 24, toreceive the "compressedtair thathas been driven centripetally inwardly by the blades of the `im pellers, and also to provide for themounting of `motion transmitting devices which areoperable between y the `impellers. Toothed annular t racks 63a and l63b'are lformedtupon the impeller members 601andf6l,"respectively, which racks `extend aroundlthel'margins Vof the central chamber 162 e `241,` to whichl'fit isislidably secured `by "a" key" 65 to prevent rotation of the `spider ring. A plurality of radially disposedbeveled pinionsl 66 are car,`

ried bylitheiring1`64and are in mesh withilthe teethof theracks 63aand63b, the pinions being rotatably *mounted upon the smoothshanks of raaiauy dispbsealbbitsvsr that `are screwedihto the body of the spider64`` The spiderring 64""is providedwlths1ots"6`4a which extend betweenthe pinions "andinsure passage of the centripetally unveil air current to the `chammsr sz; Thefsurfacesofthe imlpeller" members 60 andfl upon each side `of;thefannular racks 63a and [63bar`e `tapereilinwardly toward each other, as shown at Xin" Figure 4, and theinner and outer endpore tionsV 654-691` f the pinionsare smoothand corre` spondihcglytaperedwthus providing fa means to limit the "near-ness of theimpellers Gli-96| to each other".` U i t 'Ifile,1mp`s1-1r` member 6| is `urged towardfih impellernwin any `suitable manner, but preferaf blylbymansofa" disc 13 mounted upon threads 12F en ltherese z2,` ,The peripheral edge of this` thatwhenwer the` engine` is rotating. the move# ment thereof will be:t`ransinitted throughfthe planetary gear` train and the clutch to the yimpellermember 60, thence through the rack 63a andwfthehbeveledtpinions 6,6 to rack` 6317thereby4 moving;` the other impellertmember 6I ina direc-jtion opposed tothe direction of movement of t ponfrontingiimpellen,membenglis lugslllwsecuredtothefspiden 64 throughthefmez diuml of: boits 61a vArouatefbales.E 'Llareiprovided onl this` ring orf annulusi. 1.0, Whiolricurvef.;some:; what sharply; inwarldlgv towardathe`A axisof'. the superzcharger ati af. dilerent tangenttthanpthe blades; of the. impell'ersa 60:-6-1: an'dzin; oppositeldiz.- "f

rectionslthereto. f y

In-z order' to= aeoomrnodatefthis; drift.: baille,- the innermost channel: ongroove ofl the impellervzl is mader widenas at y, opposite. the 'innenmostfchaninel .on groove; of.'the;oonfrtontingsimpeller: Eil thu-s prnvidiilgfanz annulannece'ssr in which said drift baleisdisposed': l r f -Thez shaft Mais providedwith: openingsw formingz communication betweenr;the,l passage'r28 and the: chamber; 62;.thus allowingfnthei centripejtally.: coinpressed-` air` to'.- discharge; finto: 1 the pas,"- sagevz:A The. throttle; for controlling. the.. dis-y charge ofv air through the openings llis. 4prefer.,- ably,Y tubulan asu shown;A atl 83| and'. ts lsnugly into thepassage 28, but isadapteditoberrotated there'.-

inigby. .me'ansof` a handle; or?vv leyerfz secured thereto; Sltsf 8'3:yare madey-in-.y the;-.wail ofgthe throttle, which may-be movedz'into; onoutof rege ister'Wit-tithe` openings; 3|),h andthe-end. of; the throttle may-` be closed bya wall4 the .throttle beingheId in positiom byrfmeans a suitable member-.85. f f

Above, the fuelrlif'aede device and,sprayport, thereyisv provided-` a dome (see particularly Figure Whichhouses a. coiledexpansion spring 81 ,the tension :of whichis ,adaptedtlbe adjusted, and which, hasy itslower. end, engagin'gfarfollolwer dso88fin the lower vend offthe dome. 'This spring is for lthe purposeofjexerting pressure upon the piston or plunger 341of'the fuelfed device. "The pressure of'` the spring is transmitted;v preferably, throughthe medium of'a toggledeyicef; the ends of which device-respectively"engagethe'folL lower 88 and the upipeigend of the pistonor plunger Theintermediatehingd'portionsyof l thev toggle are. provid'edwth' right andleft'lian'd threaded nuts 9'||i that are" respectively"engaged byv the correspondingly' threadedj portions* f a feedfscrew 9 I vthat extends throughL the outer v1end ofithe throttle member' 81|l and thefretainerfcup B; wl'lerelitl is' provided: Withjafkn'ob' orfblitton 92 for" operating it; Rotation ofi the feed'l screw "9| willffurthe'r separate; ory draw closer together; the nuts) 901 at the intermediatehingeso thetoggle, andfthus colntrol= thetens-ion off *theI spring-8T," to control the flow of fuel through-tlie-sprayJporti38 int'othe pathof the compressed; air current which isl rnoving pastE the sprayportiin transit toi the engine casingVv and cylinders. f

With' this improv-edi*oonstructon'it W'ille manifest that there` isfprovided means-whereby loweg-rade oilsy vandl oils or filelother than: gasonline, may-'be 'employed inl'the operation: ofthe engine;E the oil being broken"Y up. andir mixenY with the air to form ntthe-fpumpavalfheatedemulsiorr,

beinge'sulisequentiy deliveredl tbl the.: intake." pipe Z8i.wlierefit is convertedrintothe fornirci afmist andi themdeliveredi to: the: oombustioni chambers (an-.the onlindex'rsg.: Eurthenmonef the.y fueli whixzh isseniployed--in1the1 `fonrnationq.,of thea emulsibmnot only serves@y as ther. explosiveil medium: for.' driving the# enginazlbut also. lubrioates the; moving;V parts of; the; engine :omits passage: vto'l the: combustion chambers-,fI thereby; dispensing; with` themeeessity of using, as is the case-with thenginesi naw em'.- ployed;twofseparatefliquidsi, oneffon the-explosio andtthe. othenfor,lubrication;v l f l Y @Hurt/hermana; withi they present construction; all imeer;anismf for. lelflviciin'g:y afenced feed; lubri-f atiomin-.additionto the; mechanism; for'. supply,- lirigfjtlrle,,.fuel: tothe i combustion; chambersi. willgfhe dispensed` with;f as# thee same. mechanism, which suppliesffther v fuelf to-fthe.;r oombustion chambers wily.,v infethez; nlesenti inventiom, also seme` as; a means ior effecting..v lubrication? of, themoving parts @.ffthe Qngir1e,f l v l `Willi-ile the; preferred; eniboclirnentH yof' therfpresent-K inyention hasbeen herein, shown, andwdef sribed,it is tobe understood vthat various changes beugoardennA4 the. details lof constnuctiomand in) theA combination and. ainrangement.ofr the sev- `eral. parts; Within the. scope. ofy the 4 olainns,I with.- out 4ldf'lepartingf from Ethe. spiritv l of .y this. invention. What is4 claimed' 'as new.y is.:,` f g interl l"al combustion. engine. embodyingja hollow shaft, 'about Wliih` thegengi'necasing .and oyli'ndefis rei'olve, a. stationary,` housi'ngv adja'oent the engine.- casing.concentricI tas'aidfshafita holle 'low'.fextensionforming. a.. ejontinufation. olf?, vsaid shaft;l Saidl extension "providedv with, "a yseries,lof transyers'e, apertures, the.` bores .of said, shaftr and said, extension constituting a fuelllpassageway discharging yinto the engine:r casing,. an, impelljex.` the housingand rotatably: ;Ir11o ur1t.ed` on; ',said extensionadapted.` toi centripetally oreatef `airpr'essure and.,disc'harge. theY same. through,4 said aperturesginto. saidpnSSageWayf andr thence into the engine casing, means also in the,housi ng, for feeolirlf.;y fuel andain mixturejntofsaidpassagea drivingV connection, between the/rotatable engine vcasing.and thejsaidl impeller.; a. clutch in?? eluded. inl` saidl connection, and yielding.. means .endmenormou to render said.. mener-active "`s`aid`l"olutch said" connection, '1" ingL rnean-s ,beingjdisnosed ,Within 52;1a-an-engine ,sj "Stationary Shaft; eyuiders rotatable. about the, shaft,v K there being.4 a passage the ,"siia'ftin communication with the cylinders, fal ,housingf supported' by the Vengine vandzi'ito which housingy 'the shaft' entends, ansupercharger disposed in 'said 'eusingand rotatable aboutseid .Shaft mns @within 'the Housirigan'd' diSv posed intermediate the /sup'ercharge'r andthecylfor receiving' liquid2 fuelarid" also for; ivingafir rm Said Sunrchargeraidmeans' operating' ftol fo-rrn'` ajheated emulsionof said" air 'andiil'el received/thereby and: also operating'to dischargesa'id heatedeinul'si'on into said passage forv transniss'ion` to' the engine cylindersgfan'd 'meansre'sponsii/e tothe rotationofvsaiid cylinders forioperating' theV last said` means# andi' the; said supercha'rgeii f 3.'Ih1 n=engine, asta-tionary-shait', cylinders rotatableaboutf the shaft, thereJ being"V alpassage in the shaft in communication with the cylinders, ahousing supported-by' tlie=engineand into "which housing."the shaft extends, a supercharg'er dis.'- posedf' in-j said housing. androtatabl'e' about'said shaftt' 1 nie'ansb alst withinl the1 housing* and dise cylinders for receiving liquid fuel and also for receiving air from said supercharger, said means operating to form a heated emulsion of said air and fuel received thereby and also operating to discharge said heated emulsion into said passage for transmission to the engine cylinders, means responsive to the rotation `of said cylinders `for operating the last said means and the said su percharger, and means for controlling, at will, the supply of air from said supercharger to the engine cylinders.

4. In an engine, a stationary shaft, cylinders rotatable about the shaft, there being a passage in the shaft in communication with the cylinders, a housing supported by the engine and into which housing the shaft extends, a supercharger disposed in said housing and rotatable about said shaft, means also within the housing and disposed intermediate `the supercharger and the cylinders for receiving liquid fuel and also for receiving air from said supercharger, said means operating to form a heated emulsion of said air and fuel received thereby and also operating to discharge said heated emulsion into said passage for transmission to the engine cylinders, and means responsive to the rotation of said cylinders for operating the last said means and the said supercharger, the last said means embodying a driving connectionwith the engine cylinders and 10 also a driving connection between the engine cylinders and the supercharger for operating them.

LESLIE W. BEAVEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 744,380 Meridth Nov. 17, 1903 898,903 Lindsay Sept. 15, 1908 1,003,144 Loftus o Sept. 12, 1911 1,145,969 Brooke July 13, 1915 1,146,545 Aurand July 13, 1915 1,191,437 Kieling July 18, 1916 1,231,871 Freytag et al. July 3, 1917 1,238,683 Kennedy Aug. 28, 1917 1,611,429 Fish Dec. 21, 1926 1,631,591 Hill June 7, 1927 1,642,137 Banner -1 Sept. 13, 1927 1,757,514 Coulomb May 6, 1930 2,283,694 Perrine May 19, 1942 2,324,116 Sivertsen July 13, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 416,201 France Aug. 1, 1910 14,995 Great Britain 1911 

